The Decathlon queuing system

I have been working for Decathlon in various leadership ranks for two years so I have enough experience to speak first-hand on this subject. In this post I will talk about the queuing system currently developed by the company as well as future plans. Fact that I will link to future publications.

Currently the premise on which the customer service is based is the complete advice and full availability so that from the moment the customer enters the store until the moment he makes the purchase.

To do this, from the moment you start working for the company, you undergo training that orients you towards the objective of being able to provide personalized attention. This is complemented by a large staff that is modified by the demand. The general managers of each department must make a forecast of the number of clients that can attend each period of time based on schedules or periods associated with high demand such as back to school. And based on these studies will have the necessary staff to meet all the needs of customers

The attention of the staff is complemented by computer systems that provide all the information about any product both in the store and in the catalogue in an easy and intuitive way, without the need for the intervention of the store staff. In addition, all the staff have smartphones that collect a whole series of elements that provide useful information to satisfy the customer’s needs. Through the use of smartphones the staff can access the status of a certain product in the store and even place orders in case of absence of the order requested by the customer. In addition, it provides a useful tool for the client since with the use of the smartphone we can show him opinions concerning the product of his interest and thus help him to obtain a better opinion and help him in his decision making.

Given the availability of space, most products cannot be displayed in the store so that only sizes and samples are displayed. And in case the customer wants to have any product, all he has to do is go to the computer points or to the store staff. They can make the arrangements to carry out the process of sending the product either to the customer’s home or for collection in store in a matter of minutes.

In short, Decathlon’s queuing and customer service system aims to provide fast and efficient customer access to your product and all relevant information. In addition, it facilitates the process of sending products in case of absence in store thanks to the new computer systems available in store and that greatly facilitate all the processes.

Will the middle east be the future operations center of world logistics?

The relocation of the logistics operations centre by Nestlé highlights a couple of elements that demonstrate an upward trend today.

The first relates to the trend of large-scale operational centres towards relocation to the eastern parts of the country. In the case of Nestlé due to its globalization process and its proximity to raw materials, and the current growth trend of countries such as the United Arab Emirates.

The strategic position of countries such as the United Arab Emirates, thanks to their access to the Persian Gulf and their location midway between Asia and the West, makes them a very interesting option for the establishment of world logistics centres. This is complemented by the implementation of economic policies to attract this kind of centre by the government, which makes the Persian Gulf a very interesting option. In addition, maritime and airport infrastructures are being improved to facilitate transactions.

Another important element is related to the logistics centre per se as it is based on the latest technology and automation standards. Highlighting the trend towards computerisation of logistics processes.

This element is reflected in all types of industries. From the producers themselves to the distributors that are carrying out a process similar to Nestlé through the implementation of new digital systems ranging from picking to distribution.

And finally, the efficiency with which the process of transporting the equipment from one logistics centre to another must be highlighted. This titanic task has been carried out by Mohebi Logistic, a company focused on Middle East logistics… The task was completed quickly and efficiently without any delays or setbacks.

Nestlé Middle East relocates to new logistics hub

Estonia as an example of technology leader

https://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2013/07/economist-explains-21

Based in the information that we can obtain from the first sight in Google, Estonia is sovereign state in Northern Europe which obtained the independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. After the independence Estonia was plunged into the most absolute chaos but in the recent years it has been considered as a reference in the economic atmosphere. And that´s because the develop of a successful high-tech economic system which is called e-estonia. And what is exactly e-estonia?

The story that makes the Estonia government the most tech developed and in consequence  the most technological country in the world starts with the first independent government of Estonia after Soviet Union who decided to base the growth of the country in the develop of an economy based in the technology. That government put their faith in the first stages of the internet and the future of the digital era. And they were right in that decision.

Now, let´s develop some policies that Estonia’s government had implemented across the years. In 2000 Estonia was the first country to declare the Internet as a human right and introduce a paperless system where the online signature has the same value as the traditional one. That simple gesture changed everything because it proved the innecesary of the paper use and allowed the use of digital signature for opens bank accounts, pay taxes and even vote in the elections. The easy process of doing the traditional bureaucracy allows Estonians to realize most of their dealing without the need of visit any institutions, simply they have just to use their ID card to doing most of the thing from wherever they want. For example, the process of set up a new company doesn´t take more than 20 minutes what makes Estonia as one of the most entrepreneurship countries in the world and from where companies as Skype was set up.

Other examples of successful policies of Estonia government is the develop of a system called x-Road which allows to share information between institutions. Cause everything is saved online and registered in each ID the Estonians can take their medical records with them wherever they go or share their educational experience with a simple click, saving them the complicated procedures that are so common in other countries.

Another element that makes Estonia so current is their concern of the online privacy and security. That concern comes from the first stages of the country but since in 2007 they suffered a cyberattack supposedly from the Russia government after the Tallinn government decided to remove a Second World War memorial, the fear to futures attacks has never stopped growing. That why the have implemented a blockchain system and they have created the first data embassy in Luxembourg to keep all their datas safe. That technology allows security member to develop new encrypted data and make the system as invulnerable as possible.

To sum up, Estonia has achieved several accomplishments that have changed absolutely the country and move their economy from the disaster to be an extreme of digital living. But can be that example be implemented in larger countries? And even more, Estonia has proved that they have a cultural background open to changes but are there cultural barriers in other countries that make harder to implement strategies such as Estonia has done?